Surface rod ball-and-socket joint



A. R. 'LOOP Marchy 26, 1940o SURFACE ROD BALL-AND-SOCKET JOINT Filed May 9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l www irc/1 Rino/U, l

March 26, 194Go A, R LQQP 2,195,336

' .l SURFACE ROD BALL-AND-SOCKET JOINT Filed May 9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 93A.; Y

March 2s, i940. A. R. LQQP- 2,195,336 I SURFACE non BALL-AND-socKET JOINT Filed vMay 9, '1959 s sheets-sheet 3 Arc/z R .L oapf Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED s'm-Tl?.sl

"PATENT OFFICE SURFACE ROD'BALL-AND-SOCKET Arch R. Loop, Eldred, Pa., assignor to' Joseph P. Willson, Smethport, Pa.

Application May 9, 1939, serial No. 272,695 I 5 claims. ((1287-12) erate the pumps atA the individual wells by power transmitted from the central plant. Generally, the rotating motion of the power plant is changed to a reciprocating movement, and this movement transmitted through rods, known as surface rods, to the various pumps. distance from the power plant to the well may be as much as 1000 or 1500 feet, or more, it is necessary to utilize many short rods connected l in any suitable manner, rather than one long rod; and it is essential that these rods be within easy reach of the ground, in order that they may be Vreadily repaired and serviced. vWhere the ground is rough, many supports may bey necessary in order to keep the line close to: the ground. This linvention is particularly applicable to such situations, for my devices are readily installed, andthe same construction can be used in the valley and on the hill; thus, the joints can be all alike, and be usedwherever a change of direction makes a joint necessary or useful.

' Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a typical hill and valley terrain, illustrating the invention in use.

Fig.2 is a side elevation ofthe ball and socket joint, as Vit appears in commerce.

in Fig. 2.

.Fig. 4 is a view of one of the two identical casing sections.

Fig. 5 is a detached View of one of the two iden-y tical ball members.

Fig. 6 is adetached view` of the third ball member.

Fig. '7 is an internal View of the joint, one of the casing sections being removed, showing the d several ball members in position.

Fig. s is an end View of the joint, with both parts of the casing in position, and yshowing alsov f the Asupporting shaft and base therefor.

Fig. 9 isa section of the base for the supporting shaft, taken at right angles to the position in which this element isshown inFig'.f8.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, it f will be observed that the coupling casing is made of companion halves II! and II, secured together by some suitable means, as by bolts I2, either directly,l or with an' intervening gasket, as preferred. The parts I and II are identical ex? cept when, as described below, it is desirable to vary the size of some individual memberk for some special purpose. Fig. 4 shows'the interior con- Since the Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the structure shown r struction of the casing. Each half contains hemispherical depressions, three in this instance; two of these, I and I6, oneat either end, are shown as identical, but this is not essential, and

they may differ in size; while the third, I'I, is in' one side of the casing, and may be of any desired size, although it is here shown the same size as I5 and I6. i

The recess or socket I5 has opening thereinto an angular groove or depression I8, and the re' cess or socket I6 is provided with a similar groove. or depression I9. In the same Way, the lower recess I'I is provided with a depression 20. These threedepressions I8, I 9 and 20, are so formed that when the halves of the casing are placed together, the depressions constitute slots extending from the outside of the casing to the sockets I5, I6 'and I'I. These slots are guides forthe stems of the ball members, and are of a width just suiiicient for thepshanks of the lball members to move freely therein. One of these guides is shown in Fig. v8. The lengths of these slots may vary, but they must be sufficiently long for y the shanks to shifttherein the distance requiredv by the angular motion which the coupling is in# tended to have.

The companion casing membersalso have each a recess 2l which, when the members are secured together, form a grease receptacle. This inturn communicates with each of the several sockets'so I5, I6 and I'I, bysuitable'openings or channels 2v2, 23 and 24, by which lubrication is provided for the respective sockets. A grease or oil fitting is shown at 25, and this communicates with the chamber 2|, so that the latter may be filledfwith lubricant.

In socket I5 is a ball 30, having a shank 3l with an annular enlargement 32 on the end thereof. The ball ts in the socket snugly-but easily, and the shank is of a size to move freely,y

but without substantial lateral movement, in slot I8. The'socket I6, at the other end of the casing, has therein a similar ball 30, likewise having a shank 3|, and a similar enlargement 32 for coupling to the line rod. This ball rests free-- `ly in the socket I6, and the shank 3I moves freely in vthe slot I9. v Similarly, a ball 33 rests in thesocket I'I, while the shank 34 thereof is adapte ed ,toy move freelyl inthe slot 20. The lower end of the shank of this last mentioned ball, as here shown, is larger vthan the Shanks of the other balls, and is threaded for lconnection to its support, as will be described below. As here. shown, the ball 33 is about the same size 4as the balls 30, although lthe shank 34 is somewhat heavier than the shanks 3|. These are matters of design;

sizes of the parts are not of theessenc'e ofthe invention,v and will be varied as needs require.

`In Fig.v 7, the'balls are all shown in position, with their` shanks extending through theirA reon'the character of the ground surface.

spective slots; thus, the left hand ball is shown in its recess I5, with its shank 3l in the slotl I8;

the right hand ball 30 rests in its socket I6, withv its shank 3| extendingthrough its slot I9; and the supporting'ball 33 lies in its socket I7, with its shank 34 in the slot 20. The lower end connection of shank 34 is not shown in Fig. .7,

but appears in Fig. 8.

The shank 34 of the ball 33 has its lower end` threaded, as shown in Fig. 5.y The threaded end 35 is secured in a coupling 4KB, which in turn is mounted at 4I so that it may cscillate in the line of movement of the rods, but is fixed against transverse movement. The mounting 4I is shown anchored in a foundation plate d; but of course any suitable mounting may be used.

In Fig. 1, the application of the invention te a typical hill and valley country is shown. Acentral power plant is illustrated at the left hand` 'endof the iigure.

Here, mounted on a suitable base 5s is an engine 5I, having a main shaft 52, afiy wheel 53, and one or more eccentrics `EMI. Each eccentric operates a rod 55.

The ends of the shanks 3l may be attached to `thesurface rods 55 in any preferred manner, but

are here shown (Figfl) coupled thereto by clamps ES, made in halves and secured together by bolts 6I.

moveto the right in unison. As `theeccentric 55 passes the point of maximum throw, the Yrods 55 and couplings 55 all move to the left. Ihis continues until the maximum movement in this directionA is completed, whereupon the action is repeated. Thus, the rods 55 move back and'forth, and the couplings 55 oscillate on their stands 40 as long as the pumping continues.

The slots I3, I9 and Ztl permit oscillation of the couplings in the plane in which these 'slots are arranged. This usually, but not necessarily,` will be in the vertical plane. The extent `to which thel K ritory will require.

This ball and socket joint constitutes a particularly good construction for 'transmitting the movement of the eccentric to the pumps to be operated. The balls and sockets permit free' and eicient movement in the desired direction. The end slots in the casing, here shown as vertical, will prevent any substantial rotation of the joint around a vertical axis; and the slot 2li, which is parallel to the line of movement;l will, in cooperation with its ball 33; and shank 34,'prevent substantial rotation of the joint or coupling around a horizontal axis. r

One type of coupling satises all requirements. It may be mounted in a valley or .on an, elevation; and the stems of ythe balls Willall move freely in the direction of their respective slots, but at the same time, the joint as a whole `can neither rotate nor move laterally to any substantial extent.

` The numberA of couplings necessary in any given line will depend upon the distance between the central power plant andthe wells, 'and also If the territory to be crossed is much broken, that is, if it has many hills and valleys, the number of couplings will necessarily be 'greater than in a more level country.

The construction is rigid, simple, easily kept in Order, and may be readily set up and taken down.

I claim: r

l. In a surface rod coupling, the combination of a casing having therein two or more sockets substantially in line and at least one other at an angle thereto all arranged in substantially the same plane and guideways in the casing communicating onewith eachsocket and all elongatedin the plane in which the sockets are positioned, and balls one for each socket each having a stem which projects through and is movable within its guideway, so that 'the casing and ballA stems may move with respect to each other in the plane of the guideways.

2'. In a surface roolcoupling, the combination of a casing comprising duplicate halves each having therein two or more hemispherical sockets substantially inline and at least one other' such socket at an angle to the others all arranged in substantially the same plane and yguideways onew vhalf in each half of the casing communicating' passes through and is movable in its guideway, and means for supporting the coupling.V

3. As an article of manufacture, a casing section comprising an elongated body having hemispherical ball sockets therein one at either end thereof, a recess 'therein foreach hemispher'ical socket between the-socket andthe outersuriace of the casing section which recess isfelongated on the outsideand extends .into the socket, and another hemispherical socket in substantially the same plane as the others and a recess similar to L the other recesses communicating with this hemispherical socket.` l

gl. As an article of manufacture, a casing'section comprising an elongated body having 'hemispherical ball sockets therein lone at either end thereof, a recess therein for each hemispherical socket between the socket and the outer `surface of the casing section which recess is elongated on the outside and extends into the socket, and another hemispherical socket in substantially the hemispherical socket, and a grease recess and channels therefrom to the. hemispher'ical ball sockets.

5. In a surface rod coupling, the combination of a casing having therein sockets one at either end thereof and another at .one side'v thereof all arranged in substantially the same plane and having guideways one for each socket also all lying in substantially the same plane, and balls one for each socket each having a stem` which projects through and is Ymovable in its `{.ruideway in the direction of the length thereof, a stand 'for the ball and stem which is in the sidev of the coupling, and a support on. which the rstand is pivotally mounted for movement in the plane of the guides.

i ARCI-I R. Loop.

angle to the others and having a stem which* 

